Almost the entire first production run of Amate Audio’s new X2121AF large-format line array – a total of 64 systems with matched X218WF subs – has shipped to the company’s South Korea and Vietnam distributors.
Following the X212AF’s official unveiling in February, Amate VP and CTO Joan Amate and International Sales Manager Jordi Amate flew straight out to Van Lam Audio in Hanoi in Vietnam, and then on to Daelim Musical Instruments in Andong, South Korean to conduct training and demonstration sessions with the new line array.
Subsequently, Daelim Musical Instruments in South Korea has already supplied its first X212AF/X218WF sales to Handasa Sound Company and Mi Sung Sound rental companies; each system comprising 16 X212AF and eight X218W cabinets. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, Van Lam Audio’s team prepared to stage a first outdoor demonstration of the system to customers in Quang Truong Sao Do, Hai Duong Province.
‘With 12 X212AF elements and six X218WF subs, the system really brings an impressive experience,’ said Van Lam Audio Director, Nguyen Duc Cuong. ‘The immediate impression is of the physical scale, compared with the X210, providing a large format line array for really big arenas and stadiums; and the sound quality is excellent, with very impressive sound pressure and smooth coverage. Amate Audio has not only brought new advanced technologies to this system but also design detail, down to the sonically transparent speaker grille.’
In South Korea, Joan and Jordi spent three days with Daelim Musical Instruments, allowing personnel from Handasa Sound Company and Mi Sung Sound to participate in a training sessions and demonstrations. Included were extensive outdoor and indoor demonstrations with the distributor’s own demo system.
On the final day activities shifted to a sports hall where, three further regional rental companies were invited to participate, and to audition the system with their own FOH rigs. 130 attendees listened to the flown eight a side X212AF system, with eight X218WF subs demoed in turn with a DiGiCo, two Soundcraft VI Series, a Presonus and a Midas M32 mixing console.
Operational demonstration of the Active+ system preset configurations proved the rapid deployment and set-up capabilities and power of the integrated power and control platform. ‘Once the system was rigged, set-up time with the system presets was less than 90 minutes,’ says Joan Amate. ‘With Active+ system configurations, optimum performance was easily achieved and no further EQ required.’
Commenting on his company’s new line array purchase Mr Ahn, owner of Handasa Sound Company, cited the X218WF in particular, describing it ‘as the real monster in the world market of sub woofers’, while Mr Lee of Mi Sung Sound describes the X2121AF as having ‘the most clear sound he has ever heard before’.
‘Our customers in the region have been most persistent in requesting us to develop a line array product beyond the X210, which has been our flagship system since its introduction in 2009,’ says Joan Amate. ‘The X210 has been highly successful for us but we understood, in designing a larger 12-inch system, that we should develop something with a performance advantage to put us in a pole position in that product class for some considerable time. So we have applied considerable engineering resources and time in creating a very advanced product with a highly evolved design. The X2121AF is a considerable achievement for our company. One that gives us a distinct competitive edge in the market for large-scale line arrays.
‘Initial reaction has been extremely positive; with one customer ordering a system entirely on the verbal assurances given to them by Daelim Musical Instruments, who visited us in Barcelona last year for a preview of a pre-production sample.’
More: www.amateaudio.com
